LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe said Wednesday he’d sign legislation that would allow him to avoid calling a special election to replace Lt. Gov. Mark Darr, who is set to resign this week over campaign finance and ethics violations.

Beebe told reporters that legislative leaders have shown him a draft bill that would give him the discretion on whether to call the special election. House and Senate leaders say they’d rather keep the office vacant, since the general election is in November.

Darr announced earlier this month he would resign Feb. 1 after being fined $11,000 by the state Ethics Commission. The Republican had faced calls from lawmakers of both parties to step down or face impeachment proceedings.

Under current law, Beebe must call a special election within 150 days of declaring an office vacant. Beebe said the proposal he’s seen would allow him to not call a special election if there’s a vacancy within 11 months of the general election.

“If they pass something like that, I can tell you right now I would not call a special election and would save the money,” Beebe said.

Beebe said he doesn’t know yet if there’s consensus to take up such a measure during next month’s fiscal session, during which it takes at least two-thirds of the House and Senate to consider non-budget measures.